In this WrestleTalk News, Vince McMahon’s plans to sell WWE could be blocked as he’s
sued once again, a recent departure from WWE has been described as the most “shocking”
in recent company history, the wrestling world pays tributes to Jay Briscoe and more.
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It’s been a rollercoaster few weeks of wrestling news.
Vince McMahon retired from the world of wrestling and WWE itself in June last year following
several accusations and investigations of sexual misconduct.
However in December, it was reported by the Wall Street Journal that McMahon felt he was
given bad advice to step down, feeling that the news would have blown over had he stayed
in power.
Ironically that was in an article where more accusations of sexual assault had been claimed
against him.
He sent a letter to the WWE Board of Directors to get a seat back at the table, which was
resoundley met with ‘no thanks’ as they wrote in their reply email this decision was,
“based on a variety of factors, including non-public information the Board has become
aware of and the risks to the Company and its shareholders of placing a greater spotlight
on these issues.”
So Vince did the most Vince thing he could and got rid of the Board that opposed him,
instead replacing them with glad-handed, nonsensical, douchebag yes men, like George Barrios and
Michelle Wilson and used the very smart business Trojan Horse move of smuggling his return
to the company under the umbrella of “I want to sell the company and you can’t sell
the company without me”.
He also changed WWE’s bylaws to allow him final say on all sale or media rights deals.
Of course, the news didn’t go down well with fans of the product, but seemingly those
on the board either.
Three members of the board were replaced so that Wilson, McMahon and Barrios could get
their seats, and several others quit once the news became official - including Man Jit
Singh who was - perhaps just coincidentally - heading up the Board’s investigation into
McMahon over his use of company money to cover up alleged affairs.
Vince’s daughter, Stephanie McMahon, just a few days after holding a talent meeting
where it was said that it would be business as usual, resigned from her position as Co-CEO.
As if that wasn’t enough, a new SEC filing from January 17th stated that - as of January
16th - Vince McMahon no longer needed stockholder’s approval of his actions, a decision that was
“executed and delivered with written consent” by McMahon himself.
Which might have been spurred on by a lawsuit that was handed to him last week by the stockholders.
McMahon was hit with a class action lawsuit by Scott Fellows along with “thousands of
WWE stock holders”, which claimed, “McMahon violated Delaware law by taking control over
any major WWE corporate decision and ‘adding his cronies to the Board’.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQEwJdhfddk [1:16 - 1:19]
And as if that wasn’t enough, McMahon was hit with a second lawsuit over his return
to the company.
Sportico revealed yesterday that the Detroit Police and Fire Retirement System petitioned
the Delaware Court to have their own class action lawsuit, similar to the one filled
by Mr. Fellows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQEwJdhfddk [1:16 - 1:19]
This suit claims McMahon tried to, “impose his personal will on WWE and its [board] by
purporting to adopt a package of invalid and inequitable bylaw amendments that would hamstring
the Board from making critical business decisions.”
The suit claims that McMahon’s moves violate Section 141 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law and the company charter.
This, however, isn’t just a lawsuit to cry afoul of the bad man returning unfairly, this
lawsuit would be seeking, “a declaration that would effectively block [McMahon] from
regaining control of WWE’s board of directors and prevent him from expediting a sale,”
according to Sportico.
They add, “The two complaints could complicate any sale and require contractual assurances
that may alter the sale price.”
This could potentially be a huge chapter in the on-going sale of WWE, whose suitors include
Disney, NBCUniversal, Endeavour, Saudi Arabia - and even AEW owner Tony Khan.
And now Khan himself has shown public interest in buying WWE.
In what was a rather trolling answer to the question, Tony Khan was asked about WWE’s
sale on The Maggie and Perloff show where he said that AEW was his main focus, but he
was certainly intrigued by the idea of buying WWE and being part of the process.
See if you can spot the moment he goes into promoter mode.
It’s almost imperceptible.
He said, “I am interested in the news that there is potentially a sale process and certainly
I think we’ve shown when there are acquisitions and transactions, we’re capable of making
the big purchases.
AEW is my main focus, but certainly when that news is out there, it’s very interesting.
So stay tuned to AEW Dynamite and stay tuned to AEW Rampage, you never know when I’m
going to address something.”
He is clearly learning lots of lessons from Jeff Jarrett since he came on board the team.
But buried within the news of Vince McMahon being sued twice in two weeks was the announcement
made yesterday that long-time employee and Vice President of Communications Adam Hopkins
had left the company after 25 years.
Fightful broke the story initially, then added via Fightful Select that Hopkins was “let
go by WWE on January 13th”.
Several members of the wrestling media landscape took to Twitter to talk about how sad this
news was.
Sean Ross Sapp tweeted, “There is a lot that Adam Hopkins is responsible for that
you haven't seen him credited for.
He was very good at his job and it's hard to believe he won't be in high demand.
A huge thank you for all the interviews, junkets and events he helped arrange.”
Denise Salcedo tweeted, “I've known Adam Hopkins for years now and he is truly one
of the best PR people out there.
He did a phenomenal job and treated all members of the media with respect.”
While David Bixenspand added, “In the past, I've occasionally tweeted about my negative
experiences with various WWE public relations staff members.
Adam Hopkins, however, was the exception.
Genuinely good guy who never let his soul get sucked out of him.”
Speaking of the firing, Mike Johnson of PWInsider wrote that the news shocked, “just about
everyone you could imagine as the general consensus has been "WTF" among talents and
other staffers.”
He also added, “We are told that Hopkins was not the only recent exit from the company's
PR side, but certainly his exit would be among the most shocking in recent company history,
with one person describing it as the equivalent of "Howard Finkel" exiting.”
Speaking of PWInsider, they are also reporting that it will be an “all hands on deck”
kind of weekend when it comes to next Saturday’s Royal Rumble.
Johnson writes that even if talent are not scheduled to be on the event, they will still
be travelling to San Antonio for the show, with even discussions of WWE’s NIL athletes
being brought in.
So it looks like Oli Davis’ and myself’s predictions of lots of people having nice
catering wasn’t that far off at all.
And according to Fightful Select, while we may not have the surprise of Cody Rhodes as
he was officially announced for the Rumble match on Raw, there could be another ‘return
from injury’ surprise waiting for us.
Sean Ross Sapp is reporting that WWE are “hoping” Logan Paul can appear at the Royal Rumble
next week.
He writes, “We haven't heard any solid details on the plan, but as of last week, WWE was
hoping to have him train for an upcoming match.
We can confirm they've at least inquired about it.”
Paul was injured during his WWE Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns at
last November’s Crown Jewel, where he said he tore several ligaments and muscles in his
knee.
It was figured that was Logan exaggerating the injuries, as it would have been too soon
after the match for that diagnosis, and his brother Jake Paul downplayed the injuries
in other interviews.
Logan Paul was also involved recently in a Crytpo and NFT scam, which he wrote that he
would be, “taking accountability, apologising and coming forward with a plan in the near
future.”
According to Fightful Select, this news will not affect his push in WWE or any creative
plans for him.
We must, however, conclude this episode of the WrestleTalk News with the tragic passing
of Ring of Honor Tag Team Champion, Jay Briscoe.
ROH owner Tony Khan broke the news via Twitter, noting that Jay was a star in ROH from the
first show until his final one last year.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer later noted that Jay Briscoe passed away in a car
accident where one other person also died.
His daughter remains in critical condition as of the time of this recording.
Jay Briscoe was 38 years old.
Sean Ross Sapp noted on Twitter that NXT had a segment planned for last night’s show
where New Day would hold a funeral for Pretty Deadly’s title shot.
However once the news came out about Jay Briscoe’s passing, the segment was cancelled by New
Day and Shawn Michaels, instead having lead commentator Vic Joseph give out a tribute
to Jay Briscoe on the show.
Jay Briscoe recently won the ROH Tag Team Championships from FTR in the final of their
trilogy of matches at Final Battle 2022, which was awarded five and a half stars by Dave
Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The wrestling world has been sharing their tributes to Jay since the news broke.
Adam Cole tweeted, “I don’t know what my life would be like without Jay Briscoe
in it, and I don’t want to know.
You believed in me, you helped me, you treated me like family.
There will never be another like you.
I am so grateful to have known a man like you.”
Triple H called him, “An incredible performer who created a deep connection with wrestling
fans across the globe.”
Sami Zayn tweeted, “I don’t have the words right now to properly convey my sorrow.
I love Jay & Mark Briscoe.
Always have.
I wouldn’t be here without them.
I’m very lucky to have shared the ring & shared so many laughs with Jay Briscoe and I’m
so sad to know neither will happen again.”
Shane Taylor also shared memories of working against Jay Briscoe, which was echoed by Kyle
O’ Reilly who tweeted, “Jay Briscoe was the real deal.
I was always amazed how someone could be so intimidating one moment then so warm & affable
the next.
He gave so much to the business & to his family and I’m forever grateful for having known
him.”
WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos tweeted their condolences to the family, while Christopher
Daniels noted, “Jay Briscoe was one of the toughest men I ever had the privilege of sharing
a ring with, as well as being a tremendous brother, father, and man.
I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to know him and wrestle him as often as I
did.”
Seth Rollins - who wrestled in ROH as Tyler Black - posted several tweets:
“Being in the ring with Jay Briscoe got me my first ROH contract.
He and Mark being so selfless helped Jimmy and I find our footing as Age of the Fall.
Without him, I don’t know if Tyler Black could ever have been Seth Rollins.
After I signed with WWE, Jay would come to the Salisbury house shows to drink beer and
to hoot and holler.
He loved the business and he was a great human and friend.
Bigger than that he was an absolutely adoring father and husband.
Jay was one of those people who was always legitimately happy to see ya.
He had a twinkle in his eye and hug waiting for me no matter how long we went without
seeing each other.
I’m crushed knowing that warmth is gone.
My thoughts are with his family and friends.
He was special.”
We here at WrestleTalk would like to send our condolences to the family and friends
of Jay Briscoe.
We’ll leave you today with this clip to remember him by - helping his daughter practice
her cheer routine during
the pandemic.